The Power of Glove: A Power Glove Documentary

$18,278

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Help us fund the final production stages of The Power of Glove, a feature documentary profiling the enigmatic NES controller that helped define a generation of gamers.

The Power Glove was a 1989 Nintendo controller that promised to forever change the way humankind interacted with technology. Originally released by Mattel, the Power Glove was the first mass-marketed, gesture-based video game controller, and its hype was immense.

Immediately after its release, however, gamers were disappointed by the Power Glove, and critics panned it as a worthless gimmick. Yet unlike many gimmicks and critical failures of the past, the Power Glove has not been simply swept under the rug. Over two decades after its release, the Power Glove continues to resonate with video gaming and technology fans, becoming the focus of art pieces, songs, videos, hacking projects, and other forms of cultural repurposing.

The Power of Glove is the story behind the legend and legacy of the Power Glove.

We are both MFA graduates in Documentary Film from Wake Forest University, and our passion for filmmaking is only equaled by our love for retro gaming. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to combine those passions in The Power of Glove.

Along with our co-director, Paula Kosowski, we share a belief that the Power Glove has been given an unfair wrap over the past couple decades, and that the story behind the Power Glove has never been fully revealed.

As you can see from our trailer, we have unparalleled access to the creative minds behind the Power Glove. In order to uncover the multifaceted history of the Glove, the film features interviews with the Power Glove’s developers in its hardware, firmware, game design, and marketing departments. By approaching the Glove from such varying angles, the film is faithful in revealing the full journey of the Power Glove from its original concept to on-the-shelf reality.

Novak - Software

Darin - Templates / Mike - Hardware

Tracy - Hardware

More than 20 years after its release, the Power Glove has been culturally repurposed and reinvented by a small but dedicated legion of fans. The Power of Glove features those artists and hackers who have refused to let the Power Glove die. Witness how these passionate enthusiasts have transformed the Power Glove from a nearly-forgotten piece of technology into a cultural phenomenon.

TriForce - Enthusiast

Dan - Arcade Owner

Yeuda - Musician

We have more interviews lined up with the Power Glove’s integral
creators, as well as exciting Power Glove modifiers. Filmmaking is a
costly endeavor, however, so in order to complete these final shoots, we
need your help.

We are really excited to be able to reveal some rare and
never-before-seen footage of the making of the Power Glove in our film.
We hope to obtain even more rad footage with the help of our
Kickstarter fundraising.

Unreleased Power Glove Game Footage

Your donation will cover travel expenses, shooting costs, archival footage fees, publicity, as well as the timely process of editing the remainder of the film.

But fear not! Your donation shall not go unrewarded. Some of our more exciting prize incentives include the following:

Note: Because Power Gloves are 25 years old, we can’t guarantee that they will be functional. But hey, just think of how rad a signed Power Glove will look on display in your gaming room!

Risks and challenges

The principle challenge involved in the production of The Power of Glove is coordinating the necessary interviewees to tell the story of the Power Glove properly. Because the Power Glove was produced over 20 years ago, its creators have since dispersed coast to coast across the United States. Furthermore, the Power Glove has developed a significant fan-base that knows no territorial boundaries, so we're constantly discovering new Power Glove modifiers all over the USA (and the world!). If we are able to reach our goal, we will try our best to meet with the most important figures in the Power Glove's history/legacy, as well as to juggle scheduling conflicts, but our ability to do this is understandably dependent on a number of indefinite factors.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

A copy of the NES game "Super Glove Ball" signed by Novak, the game’s creator! (Limited Supply!) PLUS a limited edition t-shirt with the film’s logo, a signed DVD of the film, link to the film with exclusive bonus features (upon completion), a digital wallpaper, and special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

If you are a filmmaker and you have a movie you’d like to promote, we will include your film’s trailer (maximum 2 minutes) in a special “trailers” sub-menu of our first-run DVD pressing. Plus all the prizes listed in the $100 tier.